Strategic Alliance Between The Michener Institute and Vertual Ltd. Brings Immersive Simulation in Radiation Therapy to North America
TORONTO, July 9, 2009 – The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences and Vertual Ltd. are proud to announce a strategic alliance that will bring immersive (or virtual reality) simulation-based education in radiation therapy for the very first time to Canada and North America.
“This is a proud moment for Michener as we introduce new state-of-the art technology to support student learning within our innovative interprofessional and simulation-based curriculum,” said Dr. Karim Bandali, Associate Vice-President, Business Development. The Michener Institute offers the largest Medical Radiation Sciences program in Canada in conjunction with The University of Toronto to over 375 students, 162 of which are currently enrolled in Radiation Therapy.
The Virtual Environment Radiotherapy Training System, or VERT, simulates the virtual reality of a radiation therapy treatment room. Through captivating 3D views and life size visualizations, VERT offers an immersive simulation-based education model to train radiation therapists and interprofessional teams. VERT can be used to illustrate how theoretical concepts translate into clinical practice and the acquisition of clinical skills in a safe, risk free environment.
"Immense joy comes from developing innovative solutions that tackle real problems in health care, which then go on to bring benefits to patients and medical staff,” explains Professor Roger Phillips, Co-founder and Managing Director, Vertual Ltd. “Effective collaborations are always a vital ingredient in producing such innovative solutions and to introducing them commercially. The Michener Institute has grasped the challenge of being simulation centric, and I am sure that our strategic alliance will allow us both to reap the dividends of this exciting collaboration for training and education in radiation therapy.” Professor Phillips is also a Research Professor in Computer Science at the University of Hull, England.
VERT’s three-dimension virtual simulation capability will become an important tool in enhancing the preparation of Michener students for the clinical setting as Michener integrates a new level of simulation-based education into their Radiation Therapy program. VERT will be used to compliment and reinforce their existing curriculum focused on patient treatment planning and the administration of radiation for therapeutic purposes.
"For Vertual’s first venture into the North American market, we are fortunate to partner with such an innovative and forward thinking educational institution,” reflects Professor Andy Beavis, Co-founder and CSO, Vertual Ltd., and Head of Radiation Physics at the Queen's Centre for Oncology and Haematology in Hull, England. “Vertual's goal is to make innovative changes to the way oncology professionals are trained. To date, we have had great success in England, and believe that The Michener Institute will play a strong role in achieving this goal in Canada."
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For more information about Michener, interview requests or media tours please contact:
Iliana Arapis Katie Schrank
Senior Director, Communications & PR Communications Associate
416-596-3120 416-596-3101 ext. 3482
For more information about Vertual Ltd. and VERT please contact:
Roger Phillips Caroline Ward
Managing Director Office Administrator
+44 (0) 1482 347572 +44 (0) 1482 347572 roger@vertual.co.uk caroline@vertual.co.uk
